Sliding extensible step.



L. P. SAUNDERS.

SLIDING EXTENSIBLE STEP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1913.

1,077,644. Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

- Suva/Mica F SAUNDER 5f L. P. SAUNDERS.

SLIDING EXTENSIBLE STEP.

APPLICATION IILED MAR.13,1913.

1,077,644. Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

a m vewco'a I7 610 'L-FSAUNDERS,

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA c,

TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS F. SAUNDERS, 0F KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SLIDING EXTENSIBLE STEP.

T 0 [ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Louis F. SAUNDERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Sliding Extensible Step; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and useful sliding step.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extensible step for cars and the like and sight seeing automobiles, which step comprises a simple, efficient and practical device of this nature having various features and combination and arrangement of parts, to be hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toggle-link connection, adapted to be actuated for extending the step, there being spring jaws, between which one of said toggle links is clamped, in order to prevent the links from accidentally operating, owing to the vibration of the car, in combination with a spring catch to engage an arm of the extension of said step, to assist in preventing the step from accidentally extending.

In practical fields the minor details of construction and arrangement of parts may necessitate alterations, to which the patentee has a right, provided the alterations fall within the scope of what is claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a view in perspective, showing a portion of a car equipped with the improved extensible step. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the steps. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, showing the extensible step receded. Fig. 4 is a rear view of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 4. 6 is a detail view of the extensible step, showing its extension. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 4, showing the spring arms for clamping one of the toggle links. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of the channel member 8, showing how the same is connected to the steps 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l designates a portion of a car having the usual platform 2 and the ordinary steps 3. Connecting the sides of the steps 3 at the rear thereof is a cross bar 4, secured in place Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 13, 1913.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Serial No. 754,072.

by the plates 5, which are mortised into the end of said bar 4. The plates 5 are secured in place to the sides of the steps by the screws or other suitable means 6. The mortised connections between the plates the bar 4 are rendered secure by the pins 7.

Secured on the rear face of the steps is a channeled member 8 comprising the three parts, 9, 10 and 11. A channel of the member 8 is T-shaped in cross section, and receives an extension 12 of the extensible step 13, which extension 12 in cross section is shaped to correspond with the shape of the channel. The extension 12 is secured to the step 13, owing to the provision of the arm 14 (which extends at an angle to the extension,) to which the step 13 is secured, as shown at 15. A brace bar extends transversely of the arm 14, and is countersunk therein, to reinforce the step. This brace bar is designated by the numeral 16. The upper end of the channel bar or member is secured to one of the steps, by means of the forked angle plates 17 which are secured in place as shown at 18. The upper end of the extension 12 has secured thereto a bifurcated lug 19, between the arms of which the upper end of one of the toggle links 20 and 21 (which are pivoted together as at 22) is pivotally connected.

The lower end of the toggle link 21 is fixed at 23 torock with one end of the rock shaft 24, which is mounted in bearings 25 of the bar 4, there being collars 26' fixed on the shaft 24, to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft. On one end of the shaft 24 a beveled gear is fixed, and is designated by the numeral 27. This gear 27 meshes with a similar gear 28 on the lower end of the shaft 29, the lower portion of which is mounted in a bearing eye 30, while the central portion is mounted in bearings 31 of an extension arm 32 of the side of the platform 2 of the car. A collar 33 on the shaft 29 prevents upward vertical movement of the shaft 29. The upper end of the shaft 29 has a lever arm 34, whereby the shaft 29 may be rocked, which in turn, owing to the beveled gear connections, rocks the shaft 24. When the shaft 24. is rocked, the toggle-link connections are disposed as shown in Fig. 2, thereby extending the extensible step. A reverse movement of the shaft 29 will recede the step.

It will be observed on examining Fig. 3, that the togglelinks extend at slight angles and to one another, when the step is receded or closed, in order to assist in preventing the toggle links from accidentally operating, owing to the vibration of the car. When the step is receded or closed, the toggle link 20 is clamped between two spring arms or plates 36, to further assist in preventing the toggle-links and the steps from accidentally operating, owing to the vibration of the car. By constructing the toggle links, so that. they extend at slight angles to one another and providing means to frictionally clamp V the toggle link 20, renders it harder for the operator or conductor or brakeman to rock the shaft 29, but not enough to render the mechanism impracticable. A spring catch is secured to the channel member, to be engaged by an arm of the extension 12, to further assist in preventing the step from accidentally' operating. The spring catch and said arm are designated by the characters 38 and 39. The rock shaft 2 1- may be operated by a trainman or brakeman or conductor standing on the ground or station platform, by means of the lever varm 40, which is fixed to the shaft 24.

The bar a is recessed as shown at 41 to receive the channel member. Upon extending the step the arm 39 contacts with the bar 4:, to limit the step in its downward movement, while the shoulders 43 of the extension 12 contact with the lower end of the channel member, to limit the step in its upward 'member and received therein, a rock shaft mounted in bearings of the steps of the car, toggle link connections between the rock shaft and the extension of the extensible step, devices on the channel member to clamp one of the toggle links, to prevent the toggle links from accidentally operating, and means for operating the rock shaft.

2. A sliding extensible step comprising in combination with the steps of a car, a channel member upon the rear of the steps of the car, an extensible step having an extension corresponding in shape to the channel memher and received therem, a rock shaft mounted in bearings of the steps of the car, toggle-link connections between the rock shaft and the extension of the extensible step, a transverse bar to which said channel memher is fixed, an arm on the extension of the extensible step to engage said transverse bar to limit the extensible step in its downward movement, and means for operating the rock shaft.

3. A sliding extensible step comprising, in combination with the steps of a car, a channel member upon the rear of the steps of the car, an extensible step having an extension corresponding in shape to the channel member and received therein, a rock shaft mounted in bearings of the steps of the car, toggle-link connections between the rock shaft and the extension of the extensible step, a transverse bar to which said channel 4. A sliding extensible step comprising, in;

combination with the steps of a car, a channel member upon the rear of the steps of the car, an extensible step having an extension corresponding in shape to the channel member and received therein, a rock shaft mounted in bearings of the steps of the car, togglelink connections between the rock shaft and the extension of the extensible step, a transverse bar to which said channel member is fixed, an arm on the extension of the extensible step to engage said transverse bar to limit the extensible step in its downward movement, said extension of the extensible step having shoulders to contact with the channel member to limit the extensible step in its upward movement, and means for rocking the rock shaft, and means on said channel member for clamping one of the toggle links to prevent the toggle links and the extensible step from accidentally operating.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS F. SAUNDERS.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. GAssAnY, RUBIN SAUNDERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents.

Washington, D. C. 

